Employment  Visa

Under General Employment Policy (“GEP”) and Admission Scheme for Mainland Talents and Professionals (“ASMTP”), foreigners and Chinese residents of the Mainland China who possess special skills, knowledge, or experience of value to and not readily available in Hong Kong may apply to come to work as Professionals.

The GEP does not apply to Chinese residents of Mainland China. Professionals who are Chinese residents from Mainland China may apply to come to work in Hong Kong under the dedicated Admission Scheme for Mainland Talents and Professionals (“ASMTP”). Employment visa holders will normally be granted an initial stay of 36 months.

Eligibility Criteria

To apply for an employment visa, the following eligibility requirements need to be met:

• Applicant should not have any criminal records or security objections;

• Applicant must possess a good educational background. Normally it is preferable to have at least an undergraduate degree in the relevant fields. However, in the absence of such a degree, documentary evidence of good technical qualifications, relevant professional abilities, achievements and experience may suffice;

• There is a genuine job vacancy at the employing company;

• Applicant should have secured a confirmed employment offer and the job matches his/her academic qualifications and/or working experience and cannot be readily taken up by the local work force;

• The remuneration package including income, accommodation, medical and other fringe benefits is in line with the prevailing market standards in Hong Kong.

Procedures and Timeline

In general, the processing time of an entry visa application for investment as entrepreneur is approximately 4-6 weeks upon submission of a complete application package to the Hong Kong Immigration Department. The Hong Kong Immigration Department will verify the validity of the information submitted and may request additional evidentiary documents. In such case, the processing time will be prolonged. Approval of applications is at the entire discretion of the Director of the Hong Kong Immigration Department.

Note: 

The above-mentioned eligibility criteria are subject to change by the Hong Kong Immigration Department without prior notice. Please consult with Immexa’s team for more information before applying.